Ministry of Care and Companionship

We follow the example of Jesus and Mary
as we care for the sick and comfort the dying.

As Catholics we are Christian disciples committed to follow the way of the Lord whose response to suffering was to provide care! As Christ healed the sick and broken-hearted with his acts of compassion, our present Christian response to suffering must be in keeping with Christ’s actions by transforming suffering with meaning. When there is no meaning to suffering, that is when it is only pain, and of course people become afraid, angry and depressed. But where there is meaning, because there is love and proper care, in a community of support, suffering can become sacrifice! Sacrifice, in our Christian perspective, is not just another word for ‘put up with’. It literally means, from its Latin root, to make something ‘sacred’. Archbishop Anthony Mancini June 5, 2016 Letter to the Faithful.

Death of St. Joseph

Stain Glass Window, St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, Halifax, NS

An evangelizing community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative, he has loved us first. It has an endless desire to show mercy, the fruit of its own experience of the power of the Father’s infinite mercy. Let us try a little harder to take the first step and to become involved. The Lord gets involved and he involves his own, as he kneels to wash their feet. An evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others. An evangelizing community is also supportive, standing by people at every step of the way, no matter how difficult or lengthy this may prove to be. Pope Francis 2013 Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel. #24.

Archbishop James M. Hayes Symposium

The inaugural Archbishop James M. Hayes Symposium will happen May 9, 10, and 11, 2016 and is being hosted by the Atlantic School of Theology (AST). The theme of the symposium is: Living Through Death: Dying, Death and Bereavement.

The Symposium is a learning opportunity for the ongoing professional development of health care providers, spiritual care practitioners, and those interested in broadening their understanding of dying, death and bereavement in our changing world.

The scope and magnitude of present changes is unparalleled, particularly in relation to our aging population. Featured keynote speakers include Dr. Nuala Kenny, Dr. Beverly Musgrave, and Susan Chisholm.

The annual Hayes Symposium honours a man of many accomplishments: Archbishop James M. Hayes, former Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax. While he served as a dynamic and progressive bishop, those who know Archbishop Hayes intimately recognize him first and foremost as a Pastor of Souls.

This year’s symposium will explore dying, death, and bereavement in our changing context. In Canada, there are more persons over age 65 than under 15. By 2026, seniors will comprise 1 out of 5 in the population. Life expectancy for men is 82 years and for women, 85 years. Currently, the fastest growing segment of the population is persons over 85 years of age − we are unprepared for this unprecedented shift in population dynamics.

The health and social implications are compounded by the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision to remove the Criminal Code prohibition on assisted suicide for competent adults who have a grievous (and irremediable) medical condition causing intolerable suffering. This decision will impact our understanding of human suffering, palliative care, trauma, and loss. AST recognizes that the science of Pastoral Theology needs to adapt to a new reality.

Join the conversation! To register for the symposium and for further information see the following website: www.astheology.ns.ca/home/events/hayes-symposium.